Rio Rancho police said a man is in custody in connection with the robbery at the Bank of the West branch at Highway 528 and Southern Boulevard Monday afternoon.

It was the third time in five months that particular branch has been robbed.

Advertisement

Mike Espy, 47, was taken into custody in connection with a robbery at the branch on May 24, 2008, police said.

Police said the bank was also robbed again on Sept. 4. Isaac Ivan Friday turned himself in connection with that incident when he called police from a pay phone a week later.

The FBI said they are investigating to see if Friday is responsible for the first two robberies.

Department of Public Safety spokesman John Francis said the latest robber had cash on his person from the robbery.

"This is completely unusual for Rio Rancho. We have the second lowest crime rate ion the state and not known for a lot of violent crimes or robberies. The third time in as many months is very unusual," Francis said.

Police said they don't know why that particular bank is such a popular target, but they said they are on high alert.

The FBI is not releasing the name of the man who turned himself in. He is in federal custody and charges against the man are pending.

The latest Rio Rancho robbery came just hours after two other Albuquerque banks were robbed Monday. Investigators said they did not believe those crimes were related.